He's shown considerable progression in all aspects of the game and easily won a spot on this team's defense. However his very good offense has been offset by inconsistency in his own end. I don't expect him to be a shutdown guy, but I would like to see him stronger on the boards, and use his size more to his advantage when defending.

Lately, he's been doing some pretty good things with the puck, Time will only tell whether it be getting bounces, or some signs of promise as an instigator who can actually hold a roster spot. But he was brought in to BANG bodies, and he has excelled in doing that on and off the ice... if you know what I mean! (Sorry I just couldn't resist putting that in there.) He has done a good job making other teams give him space and opens up the ice when he's out there grindin.

Hostile to the past, impatient of the present, and cheated of the future.

I just reread my Hockey News yearbook from last year that listed several forwards higher than him in the top 50 players. It also said his days of being a point per game player are over. What ignorance. Datsyuk is faster and just as creative as I've ever seen him. I would have liked to see what he could have done with the whole seasons worth of games.

At times The Big E has been the goat here on the boards. Thankfully we have Quincey, Smith and The Monster to fill those shoes this year. Is he proned to a boneheaded play up the centre of the ice? Yep, once in a while BUT he has at times been our best D-Man. He has learned to use his big body to his advantage and his PIMs have gone down. He has had a solid season and surpassed most of peoples expectations here!

I just reread my Hockey News yearbook from last year that listed several forwards higher than him in the top 50 players. It also said his days of being a point per game player are over. What ignorance. Datsyuk is faster and just as creative as I've ever seen him. I would have liked to see what he could have done with the whole seasons worth of games.

Abby does not score failry regularly, quite the opposite if you ask me. He had 1 point in his first 23 games and he's had 4 points in the last 16 games. Other than his hattrick game and 2 goal game, his scoring has been close to non-existent. Normally I'd say that's no big deal, that's not really his role, but if scoring isn't part of his role, he shouldn't be on the #1 line.

Did the Hockey News really say that? After scoring 67 points in 70 games, surprising that they'd come out and say that his pointer per game days are over (perhaps you've paraphrased too much?). The distracters might say that with a full season, his per game stats might start to slip.

Smith - D (Obviously still not getting it as an Offensive Dman, too many mistakes)

Fillpulla - D (Horrible following a breakout year, what's worse is he could of been traded for Rick Nash)
Cleary - D+ (Probably injured or unable to fully recover from injuries, not close the same player he was in 2007-2010)

From the top

Howard A+ (Our MVP this year, will play 42/48 games and is posting a 922% SP and 2.19 GAA)

Datsyuk A (In 46 games still a PPG player, and +18 on a team whos GF/GA is only +6 - while playing against the opponent's best players)

Abdelkader B+ (Alot of Datsyuks emergence toward the second half comes from Abby's ability to create space for him and Z, scoring now too)

He took the step Ericsson took last year. Leads the team in +/-, 2nd in scoring for d-men, logs minutes, and plays well with whoever he's paired with. If Smith can make the same jump next year, we are going to be a ***** for other teams to play against. Im really looking forward to watching the Wings shut down other teams with 6 solid defensemen.